15 Best Digital Nomad Tools for 2024
Digital nomad communities are in full swing once again, with more and more people choosing to work remotely and fit in some travel along the way. But as amazing as being a nomad is, this lifestyle does come with its share of temptations that can pull you away from your deadlines.
Thankfully, there are a number of digital nomad tools you can use to increase your productivity, streamline your finances, and make sure you get all your work done on time. Below are the 15 best tools every digital nomad should start using ASAP.
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15 best tools every digital nomad should use
1. Securing your activity online: ExpressVPN
—> What it does: Express VPN is a privacy and security tool that encrypts users’ web traffic and masks their IP addresses for protected online activity.
A virtual private network (VPN, for short) is a secure connection between your computer or smartphone and the internet. When you connect to a VPN server, like ExpressVPN, your internet usage goes through an ‘encrypted tunnel’ that nobody else can see — not hackers, governments, or even your internet service provider. Using a VPN as your travel is one of the easiest (but most effective) ways for digital nomads to keep their identities private online.
2. Managing physical mail: Traveling Mailbox
—> What it does: Traveling Mailbox allows digital nomads to view their postal mail from anywhere in the world on their desktop, laptop, or smartphone.
An online mailbox is a perfect solution for travelers, expats, and RVers alike. With this software from Traveling Mailbox, you can actually manage your mail without ever stepping foot in a post office. As unlikely as that sounds, the process itself is pretty straightforward. Traveling Mailbox scans the outside of each envelope, and then you tell them whether you want that envelope opened and scanned, forwarded to you, or simply shredded and thrown away.
3. Using AI to generate copy: Copy.ai
—> What it does: Copy.ai allows you to automatically create unique content for just about anything using AI technology.
No matter what type of work you do as a digital nomad, writing and creating content is always part of it. Whether it’s writing a proposal, putting together a deck, or producing an article - Copy.ai should be your go-to solution. The AI content generator gives you multiple options for each campaign that you’re working on. And with over dozens of writing tools, you can use Copy.ai to help you create content for just about everything in a matter of seconds.
4. Bookkeeping and accounting: QuickBooks
—> What it does: QuickBooks is a cloud-based small business accounting software that can manage receipts, auto-track income and expenses, pay employees and contractors, and more.
Having been around for years, QuickBooks has claimed its spot as the go-to accounting software for small and large businesses alike. Its simple and user-friendly dashboard is accessible on all of your devices and has numerous features, including the ability to import and sort expenses, snap and upload photos of receipts, run reports, estimate taxes, and even file taxes when the time comes. The QuickBooks platform was designed to help you avoid the hassle and headaches associated with number crunching, and instead automates and streamlines the entire accounting process so you can get paid fast.
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5. Creating and managing online courses: Thinkific
—> What it does: Thinkific is equipped with everything you need to create, market, and sell your online courses within one convenient platform.
If you’d like to ‘turn your expertise into revenue with online courses,’ Thinkific can help. This innovative software enables freelancers to make money with their unique online content. Thinkific revolutionizes the way people learn (and earn) online by providing them with tools to turn their knowledge into a sustainable business. By teaming up with the Thinkific platform, you can share what you know, grow your audience, and steadily scale your profits.
6. Collecting & organizing files: Coda
—> What it does: Coda is a comprehensive software solution that combines documents, spreadsheets, and building tools in one seamless space.
In many ways, Coda was designed with project managers in mind. Not only does Coda come with built-in templates to improve project completion and management, but it also helps nomads to track objectives and key results (OKRs). Basically, this platform is a one-stop shop for running meetings and conducting user research. And as an added bonus, Coda also integrates with third-party apps like Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, Shopify, and more.
7. Managing freelance contracts & invoices: Honeybook
—> What it does: Honeybook is an all-in-one product suite that comes with everything you need to run your freelance business and guarantee you’re getting paid.
Honeybook’s software streamlines everything you need to manage your business in one place. This includes project management so you can keep track of deliverables, the ability to schedule and automate invoices, customizable contracts and proposals, as well as the ability to accept payment all from one platform so you can get paid fast.
8. Eliminating background noise on Zoom calls: Krisp.ai
—> What it does: Krisp is a noise cancellation software that blocks out the distracting background noise on your Zoom calls and recordings with the touch of a button.
If you’ve adopted a digital nomad lifestyle, you’ve likely been working from a variety of locations — cafes, coworking centers, airports, etc. But in spite of this wonderful flexibility, you’ve probably also felt the pains of being on a Zoom call with a lot of noise going on behind you. Fortunately, Krisp’s software helps remedy this situation, by effectively eliminating background noise so you can feel more confident during all your remote meetings.
9. Managing virtual events and webinars: Livestorm
—> What it does: Livestorm is a video conferencing software that helps manage meetings, webinars, and virtual events from beginning to end.
Livestorm’s technology makes it easy to communicate across different time zones while you’re living and working remotely. Unlike most other video conferencing platforms, Livestorm provides distributed teams with integrated tools to manage their virtual communication from end to end. That is to say, this software offers customizable registration pages, email delivery tracking, website widgets, built-in social sharing, and a whole lot more.
10. Designing social media content, presentations, and more: Canva
—> What it does: Canva is a graphic design platform that’s used to create social media graphics, presentations, posters, and other relevant digital content.
The Canva team is on a mission to ‘empower everyone in the world to design anything and publish anywhere.’ This online design and publishing tool comes with thousands of professional images and quality templates for you to choose from — so you have a jump start on bringing all your best ideas to life. Plus, Canva lets you plan, schedule, and publish all your social media posts directly from their software (for the ultimate in ease and convenience). They even feature dozens of tools to help you edit templates and designs in seconds. Our favorite? The ability to remove the background from any image by clicking a single button.
11. Time tracking: Timely
—> What it does: Timely helps remote teams track time, projects, and plans so they can get out from under these details and ‘focus on the work that really matters.’
With Timely, digital nomads can create accurate timesheets via fully automatic time tracking — and then log their billable hours with ease. Timely takes on all the problems associated with time tracking for you, so you can make sure you’re getting credit for your work wherever you are/wherever you go. More specifically, Timely automatically tracks the time you spend in meetings, documents, browsers, emails, and desktop applications.
12. Online logo design: Logogenie
—> What it does: Logogenie is an online logo maker which allows companies of all sizes to create quality logos online.
With Logogenie, the concept is simple: enter your company name, choose your industry and choose from the many logo templates available on the site. You can customize your logo and the process is super simple and fast. High-definition files are available for as little as $24.90. The logo package includes various file formats and other interesting options such as social media branding, email signature templates, invoice templates, and much more.
13. Manage your cryptocurrency: Binance
—> What it does: Binance is an online exchange where users can manage and trade the most popular cryptocurrencies on the market today.
Binance is a crypto wallet where traders can safely store their electronic funds. This platform offers crypto-to-crypto trading for over 500 cryptocurrencies and virtual tokens, including: Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), and its own token called Binance Coin (BNB). What’s more, Binance helps users to earn interest on (or transact) their cryptocurrencies and has programs that’ll help guide your investment decisions.
14. Finding accommodation: Anyplace
—> What it does: Anyplace provides accommodations that are tailor-made for remote workers, digital nomads, travel nurses, interns, and anyone who wants flexibility and high-speed internet.
With Anyplace, finding long-term housing is simple. As one of the first housing marketplaces for digital nomads, the platform makes it easy for you to find monthly co-living spaces, extended-stay hotels, and spaces that are well-equipped with fast internet, utilities, and oftentimes, a coworking space onsite.
15. Finding places to work: Workfrom
—> What it does: Workfrom is a powerful search engine that recommends the best coworking centers, coffee shops, and open spaces for you to work remotely.
Finding a good workflow in a new city can be hard; it’s tough to know where to go, which can sometimes leave you feeling isolated and unproductive. Luckily, Workfrom helps you find the best in-person places to knock out some work (and maybe even make a few friends). Their free database is full of community-sourced suggestions digital nomads can use to locate nearby cafes, bars, or other common spaces that are sure to inspire productivity.
Digital nomad tools FAQs
What tools do nomads use?
Aside from using the standard items like a backpack and a smartphone, digital nomads also use a variety of tools to assist with their work. Some of the most popular apps and software for nomads include Coda, Canva, Workfrom, Timely, and Traveling Mailbox.
Is being a digital nomad worth it?
People who adopt a digital nomad lifestyle typically do so out of a desire for freedom and flexibility. If those are things you crave, then being a digital nomad is definitely worth it. Location independence gives you the ability to explore the world and make decisions as you see fit.
How do I become a digital nomad?
There are a number of steps you can take to become a digital nomad for yourself. If you’re not already a freelancer or entrepreneur, you can talk to your employer about the possibility of working remotely. Then, you can look for a city with an established digital nomad community, get your tech and finances in order, and head out for your next great adventure.